Trolley frog



Dec. 311, 1923. 1 W. SCHAAKE TROLLEY FROG Filed Jan. '7, 1922 2Sheer.s-Sheet l INVENTOR M7//67/77 Sc/zaa/re Q T E m WITNESSES ATTORNEYDec. 111,, 1923,

W. SCHAAKE TROLLEY FROG File d Jan. '7, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR[MW/am Sc /make.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. llll, teas.

WILLIAM SCHAAKE, OF PITTSBURGH", PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC 8; MANUFACTURING CUIi-TPANY, A CORPORATION OF 1 ENNSYLVANIA.

TROLLEY FROG.

Application filed January 7, 1922. Serial N01 527,561.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM SoHAAKn, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in TrolleyFrogs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to trolley frogs and the like, that are employed inoverhead trolley systems.

One object of my invention is to provide a frog that shall rendersatisfactory service in an overhead trolley system, regardless of theradius of curvature of the particular track turnout for which it may beemployed.

Another object of my invention is to so design a trolley frog that thetendency for a contact device, such, for example, as a trolley wheel tobecome misplaced in passing under it, is reduced.

Still another object of my invention is to construct a trolley froghaving its guide portions in as great angular relation as pos sible andstill be consistent with good practice.

Briefly speaking, my invention consists in providing a frog having aturnout channel portion in angular relation to a plurality of tangentchannel portions and so shaping the turnout channel portion that itforms a relatively small angle of intersection with the tangent channelportions at its adjacent end and a larger angle at its remote end.

For a better understanding of my invcntion, reference may be made to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a plan view of a trolley frogconstructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the trolley frog illustrated inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of my trolley frog; and

Figs. at to 7, inclusive, are cross-sectional views taken along thecorresponding lines IVTV to VII-VII inclusive.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, a trolley frog 1comprises a web or body portion 2 and a plurality of channel portions 3,a and 5, which are adapted to position a plurality of trolley conductors(not illustrated), in the usual way. A plurality of eye members 6 areprovided for securing the trol ey frog to a plurality of guide wires orother supports (not shown). A plurality of movable extension or approachmembers that, in practice, are secured to the frog 1 at each of the endsof the channel portions 3, 4c and 5 have not been illustrated, as theydo not constitute parts of my invention and are well understood in theart. The type of approach or extension member preferably employed withthe trolley frog 1 is described and illustrated in the patent to N. J.)Vahlberg, dated June 10, 1919, numbered 1,306,566, and assigned to theWestinghouse Electric 8: Manufacturing Company.

The channel or guide portions 3 and a are of U-shape and are inalinement. The channel or guide portion 5 is also of U- shape and isdisposed in angular relation to the alined channel portions 3 and 1. Across-section of the channel portion 3 is illustrated by Fig. 7 of thedrawing, and the shapes of the channel portions 1 and 5 are bestillustrated by Fig. 5 of the draw- The tip 8 of the channel portion 5 isin relatively small angular relation to the channel members 3 and 4:,which serve as guides to a contact device, such, for example, as atrolley wheel (not illustrated). The preferred angle which the tip 8makes with the channel portions 3 and 4 is 8. The main part of thechannel portion 5 preferably makes an angle of 12 with the channelportions 3 and a of the troley frog 1. The tip 8 and the channel portion5 constitute the tangents and an intermediate portion 9 constitutes thecurve, of a continuous ridge or compound guide or channel portion forchanging the angle of travel of a contact device when passing from thetip 8 to the main body portion 5.

Downwardly-projecting flanges 11 and 12 are provided to assist inpreventing lateral displacement of a contact device during itstransition from one of the channel or guide portions 3, 4 and 5, toanother. A plurality of lugs 13* having longitudinal grooves 14; thereinare provided on the upper part of the frog 1 to co ope'rate with a clamp(not '3 of the frog 1 is nearest and the wheel is proceeding straightahead, the trolley wheel will remain in engagement with the channelportion 3 until its engagement by the channel portion Y4,- as thecorresponding lap.

If the car on which the trolley wheel is mounted, is approaching fromthe turnout Wheel travels along the projection 3over the tip 13 upon thetip 8 and, hence, over the curve portion 9 of the channel portion 5 tothe main portion thereof. As the length of.

the tip 8 is relatively short, by comparison with the length of thefrog, a great deal of material is' saved which would otherwise be lost,if the same angle of 8 Were maintained throughout the entire length ofthe channel portion 5 and the same distance between the ends of thechannel portions 1 and 5 were also 'maintained.

It the car, on which the trolley wheel is mounted, is approaching fromthe turnout track onto the tangent track; (not shown),the

trolley wheel will be almost parallel to the channel portions 3 and 4 ofthe frog 1, when the wheel is passing under the curve portion 90f thechannel portion 5. If the angle formed by the sides of the tip .13 ofthe channel portion 3 otthe frog 1 is relatively large, such, for.example,- as 12, the

wheel will not ride upon the channel portion 3 but will slip ofl' towardthe side upon which the dow nwardly-pro-jecting' flange 12 is located.This difiiculty is'not experienced, if'the angle of intersection of the'sides of the tip 13 is relatively small, such, for ex- 211111916, as 8,which isthe angle of inter section ofthe frog illustrated herein. In

other words, applicants frog permits the advantageous transition. of atrolley wheel from one channel portion to another, which iss'ecured byhaving a small angle of inter-- section therebetween and also securesthe advantage of a rapid turnout by employing a 12angle ,for the mainpart ofthe channel 5 portion 5. The latter angle is subsequentlyreferred to as thean gle of departure to disk 'tinguish it from thefirst angle, which is termed the angle of intersection.

-VVhile I- have set forth the preferred angles .for the parts of thefrog .1, it is apparent that my invention may be embodied in frogshaving different angular relations of their parts. It would also bepossible to have the channel projection 4: in curved relation to: thechannel portionB Without depart ing from the spirit of my invention. Idesire, therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention 1. A. trolley frog comprising a pluralityportions in angular relation one to another. points or tips 13 and 14:considerably overchannel portions in angular relation one to another.

5. A trolley-conductor device comprising a channel portion adapted toembrace a con ductor' and an additional channel portion in angularrelation thereto, said additional channel portion having two continuoustangent portions in angular relation the one tothe other. g 1

6. A trolley-conductor device comprising a plurality of guide portionsextending in different directions, one of said guide portions being-inrelatively small angular relation at its one end to the other guideportion and in greater angular relation at its other end to thesameguide portion. I

7. A trolley frog for turnouts having a relatively small angle ofintersection and a larger angle of departure. v

' 8.'A trolley frog for turnouts having a plurality of contact guides,said guides having an angle ofintersection of less than eleven andone-half degrees and an angle half degrees. i

eleven degrees and an angle of departure of more than eleven degrees.

10. A trolley frog for turnouts having a plurality of'conta'ct guides,said guides having an angle of intersection of less than "of departureof more than eleven and onetendegrees and an angleof departure of morethan ten degrees.

11. A. trolley frog for turnouts having a plurality of contact guides,said guides having an angle el -intersection of less than nine degreesand an angleiof departure of morethanninedegrees. i 1 i 12-. A trolleyfrog for turnouts having a plurality of contact guides, saidguideshaving an angle of intersection of substantially eight degrees and anangle of departure of more than eight degrees.

13. A trolley-conductor device comprising a plurality of alined channelportions adapted to embrace a conductor and an additional channelportion in angular relation to said alined channel portions, saidchannel portions forming an angle ofsubstantially eight degrees at theiradjacent ends and an angle of substantially twelve degrees at theirremote ends.

14. A trolley conductor device comprising a plurality of a-lined channelportions adapted to embrace a conductor and an additional channelportion in angular relation to said alined channel portions, saidchannel portions forming an angle of less than ten degrees at theiradjacent ends and an angle of at least twelve degrees at their remoteends.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd dayof December, 1921.

WILLIAM SCHAAKE.

